Dusty Psychic Hut

Friday, January 9, 2015

Minneapolis record store geeks take matters into their own hands, leaving twenty minutes of wax for the ages. I saw them at a Soho loft No Wave fest as many of that movement's pioneers were passing into history. Original post has been augmented with an early hometown show. Check out YouTube NNB live @ Hurrah NYC 1981 here.

In The Studio
01 Slack 1978 4.03
02 New World 1978 2.04
03 Listen 1979 3.10
04 Uruguay-1983 1979 4.26
05 Well, Oh Well 1979 4.27
Slack b/w New World were released as Wave 7 single W7-100
Listen and Uruguay-1983 are from Twin-Tone 7907 - Big Hits Of Mid-America III
Well, Oh Well was one side of a No Magazine flexi, w/ Information and No Group on the flip

Saturday, September 27, 2014

Version 01.4 adds 01b Tremendo Punto, at long last. Version 01.3 adds 19b Liwa Na Ngai. Version 01.2 adds 03a Eso La Vida.Version 01.1 Enthusiast discographer Alastair Johnston has kindly provided information and files, resulting in the addition of four tracks - 08a En Guantanamo, 13b Nkembo Na Nzambe, 18b Willy Mopaya, 23a Azongi Na Bomengo. I thank him for his generosity and infinite wisdom.
According to Johnston's invaluable Docteur Nico Discography, African Fiesta came together in 1963, featuring Nicolas Kasanda on lead, his brother Dechaud on rhythm guitar and Tabu Ley Rochereau on lead vocals, with Roger Izeidi, Kwamy Munsi, Joseph 'Mujos' Mulamba, Joseph Mwena and Depuissant, adding Faugus Izeidi, Paul Mizele, Dominique Kuntima and Jeef Mingiedi in due time. Having developed his electric guitar skills in African Jazz and Rock-a-Mambo, Nico was really sailing by this time, exploring exotic tones and textures like a Congolese Jeff Beck. Elastic cascades of single notes alternate with thick clusters, generally plucked instead of flat-picked, all purring and growling with natural tube sustain and distortion, tremolo and reverb. Check Angola Siempre for a characteristic 'Dieu de la Guitare' solo. African Fiesta managed to record over 250 sides in just two years, with 128 Vita singles released and nary a dud among the ones I've heard. This collection comes from my own vinyl and CDs along with many many downloads from across the interwebs, with Moos @ Global Groove a prime source. I've been advised that compilation tracks are not necessarily the same takes as the original 45s, but I don't often have multiple sources to compare. 25 Vita numbers will be covered in each post, however many tracks I actually have, with downloads revised if and when additions turn up. A list of missing sides is included in the rar, and any digital contributions would be very greatly appreciated. docteur nico african fiesta @ 45 toursthe far from complete vita singles 1963-5part 01 - vita 01-25

Version 06.1 adds 82b Mal, 86b I Got The Feelin', 90a Nalapi, 99a Baoule to Part One; 133b Mobali Akolimbisa Mwasizon and 506a Echantillon Ya Pambamazon to Part Three.
Last batch of Docteur Nico Vita & Sukisa 45s. As always, Alastair Johnston's discography has been an invaluable resource, without which these six compilations would not exist. And of course, if you might possibly have any missing numbers you would consider sharing, let me know.

Monday, March 17, 2014

A joint effort with Benin music enthusiast Oro, whose original post of NJD 002 was my introduction to these almost forgotten heroes. 002 is reposted here along with 001 & 003, my own recent finds, as natural bookends. Explore Oro for more National-Jazz and countless other African treasures.

Three elusive and amazing singles produced by Kelso Herston just before Spears followed him to Capitol. On her first major-label releases, Billie Jo is already resigned to the fact that men are dogs. She acts accordingly, grimly determined to make the most of whatever flashes of happiness fall her way, her voice breaking throughout these six tales of classic honky-tonk hurt.

From the darkest tavernsI rescued youGave you all the good thingsA love so sweet and trueThe dens of lust have lured you to the dark side of the town There's just not enough of you to go around

You're a willing victimYou can't say noFollowed by sorrows everywhere you goYou always overlook me when you're fannin' all your firesCount the hearts that you have broken curbing desires As I walk the streets of evilSearching for youI'd bet my last breath you can be foundWith the dirt in your favorite tavernThere's just not enough of you to go around

Billie Jo Spears 1966-7UA 50022, UA 50092, UA 50184Produced by Kelso Herston
01 Much Too Busy To Cry
02 Easy To Be Evil
03 If That's What It Takes
04 Conscience Keep An Eye On Me Tonight
05 Not Enough Of You To Go Around
06 You're Too Much Like Me

We were cut from the same lowly patternSince we met, all we do is disagreeEven drink from the same pain-filled bottlesI can't love you, you're too much like meWhen you cheat, I just smile and forgive youTake you back, prop you up with sympathyThen go out, find someone, start gettin' evenI can't love you, you're too much like meI thought I could lead you from the barroom to the altarTake you and show you the good side of the streetBut the alike that we're a-livin' seems never endingI can't love you, you're too much like meYou took him from me so easyI just called to let you know I'm not madYou don't love him no more, so tell meHow do I go about goin' bad?Show me how to wear my makeupWith red wine, what perfume works the bestWith your help, I will learn how to hold himLearn to love all the things I detestIf that's what it takes to hold himSurely you can correct my mistakesIf you'll wait, I'll come down to the tavernYes, I'll go bad, if that's what it takesStandin' together, all the lies you ever told meSide by side, they're all walkin' toward mePretty soon they'll look me in the eyeBut I'll be much too busy to cry

Rejected by Fontana UK, which begat Flash Light. Loose and slightly goofy, many of these ended up as b-sides for Flash Light and The Wonder singles. The rough mixes of 'Sixteen Tulips' and 'One Time At Sundown' here end in breakdown instead of the usual fade, while 'Olive' has not circulated widely as far as I can tell. Although Flash Light is more literate and more focused, guitar rave-ups like 'Call Me The' can hold their own against bratty Yardbirds b-sides like 'The Nazz Are Blue' and 'Psycho Daisies'.